The Cabinet has decided to establish a special council to further expand and promote tourism in the Maldives.

The Cabinet has decided to establish the Visitor Council as a new council for tourism, the President's Office's Public Policy Undersecretary Mohammed Firzul told a news conference this evening. The council will be chaired by President Mohammed Muizzu, he said.

Firzul said the country’s tourism is currently based solely on leisure tourism, adding that the council will continue to promote various types of tourism such as health tourism, education tourism, and travel tourism.

The council will also give special priority to the efforts to further develop tourism, take it to a new level, and expand the industry, he said.

In addition to the council, the existing Social Council and Economic Council will also be established. Vice President Hussain Mohammed Lateef has been appointed as the Chairman of the Social Council while Economic Minister Mohammed Saeed has been appointed as the Chairman of the Economic Council.